As I said in my description, I haven’t been diagnosed with CM as of yet. My dr is suspicious because over the past 7 years I have come in with the same complaints: headache, dizziness, vertigo, and sinus pressure. 7 hrs ago it began with dizziness and a complaint that I could hear my own heart beating in my ear. I went to the dr and he referred me to a neurologist who did a series of mri’s, ct scans to rule out ms, stroke, aneurisms, and tumors. Nothing showed except the narrow blood vessel next to my left ear which explained the annoying pulsating tinnitus I was experiencing. So chalked it up to stress and possible sinus problems due to possible allergies…which after several trips to allergist, it was decided I don’t have allergies. None the less, I was placed on all sorts of antibiotics to get rid of the possible sinus infections. When my dr. Saw that my symptoms weren’t going away, he looked at me and pulled up my MRI reports from the neurologist. Even though the impression noted that there was nothing significantly wrong, my dr said it appears my "cerebellar tonsils project 3mm below foramen magnum ("whatever that meant) ". But at the time it seems irrelevant and not classified as chiari. So none of that was mentioned to me before. 7 years later he wonders if it is in fact chiari and said now they have a sitting MRI machine that may help find that out. I’m supposed to be referred to a neurologist. I will be lucky to get an appt this month but she’s scheduled out far.
Nekai,
Great advise from Abby as usual. I have had the symptom of hearing your heart beat in your ear off and on for years. Before decompression it was almost constant. Since surgery it only happens when the pressure in my head is bad. A sitting MRI sounds great. Also if it's been years since the MRI that showed the 3mm it may have pushed farther down so may measure longer. A Cine MRI would show how much CSF flow you have so that's a pretty important test. As Abby said 3mm is Chiari. Just keep being a strong advocate for yourself and if one doctor doesn't help you or give you the answers you need try another. So many doctors dismiss us because they don't know about Chiari so we have to be strong advocates for ourselves. Good luck..................Wendy
Abby and Wendy thank you so much for your input! very helpful!!! I’m frustrated to think that the neurologist dismissed everything g on the report (which I do have now that confirms the 3mm projection). I might expect that from a general practitioner but not a specialist in neurology. The irony is that it was my GP who discovered this possibility. Anyway. My anxieties are high Nd feels as though my symptoms are worse than ever. I actually ran my dishwasher today…but didn’t put any dishes in it. I’m only 36! LoL!